College Before College (Part 6): Access Is Not the Same as Success

As dual enrollment and early college programs continue expanding across the country, educational systems often assume that academic readiness and institutional readiness are largely the same thing. But a recent WestEd report examining the “arc” of dual enrollment suggests that access alone does not guarantee students will successfully navigate the unfamiliar cultural, relational, and institutional expectations surrounding college-level learning.Corey Alderdice, a national voice on talent and transformation, explores the difference between opportunity and institutional fluency, why many students struggle even after gaining access to accelerated pathways, and how the future success of “college before college” may depend less on expanding enrollment and more on building the human infrastructure — mentorship, guidance, belonging, and institutional translation — that helps students truly thrive once they arrive.For additional thoughts from Corey, visit coreyalderdice.com.You can also follow him on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, BlueSky, YouTube, Instagram, and Threads.